Learn about the island fox – a once-endangered canid whose vocalizations arent so mysterious after all.

This week, we’re going to find out more about the island fox, and answer a question that was frequently asked in 2013: what does the fox say?

Habitat

Island foxes are found on six of the eight Channel Islands near the southern California coast.

Island fox trivia

Contrary to the catchy song, foxes communicate by barking and growling.

The island fox has the distinction of being the only carnivore to live solely in California.

Being about the size of a house cat, the island fox is one-third the size of the gray fox from which it descended.

With no natural predators, island foxes can hunt at any time of day, but they are most active at dusk and dawn.

There are six subspecies of island fox, each named for the island on which it resides.

As if these foxes aren’t cute enough, they also tend to mate for life (aw!).

Why they’re threatened

Although always a low-population species, the island fox flirted with extinction in the late 1990s. The presence of DDT—a notorious pesticide that also troubled brown pelicans—had wreaked havoc on the islands’ bald eagle population. In their absence, golden eagles moved in and began to prey on island foxes. By 2004, the island fox was critically endangered.

The good news? The Channel Islands National Park has since endeavoured to help its favourite fox species recover; for example, it removed golden eagles from the islands and re-established bald eagles. The result of these efforts is a happily recovered population of island foxes, though the species is still listed as “Near Threatened.”

Always in style, these monochrome beauties still need our help. On this Wildlife Wednesday, we talk about the giant panda.

Today’s topic is the familiar monochrome muzzle of the giant panda. They are cute enough to grace the iconic logo of the WWF and cool enough to be hailed as Kung-Fu masters by Disney. We challenge you to find a single person under 30 who doesn’t own a panda-themed accessory.

Habitat

Giant pandas live in a select few forested mountain ranges in central China. The forests are densely populated with bamboo, the giant pandas’ main food source. Their habitat is frequently engulfed in dense clouds as a result of the year-round mist and heavy rain.

Trivia

Although vegetarian, a panda’s digestive system is more akin to that of a carnivore; much of their diet is passed as waste. As a result, a panda needs to eat 26 to 84 lbs (12 to 38 kg) of bamboo per day to make sure it gets enough nutrients.

Pandas’ unique and endearing way of eating, (sitting on their haunches and grasping at bamboo with their paws) is possible by a “pseudo-thumb.” These bears have an elongated wrist bone covered by a fleshy pad of skin, which makes it possible for them to hold on to unwieldy stalks (or naughty cubs).

A panda cub is the smallest newborn mammal in comparison to its mother, weighing in at just five oz (141 g). It is blind for six to eight weeks and will be nursed for eight to nine months.

Panda cubs stay with their mother for up to three years before setting off into the world alone.

Unlike most bears, pandas do not hibernate. Instead they will move to a lower elevation, and rely on their woolly coats for protection from the elements.

Why are they threatened?

Although their faces are prevalent in everyday society, giant pandas are still endangered. Just 1,600 are believed to currently exist in the wild.

Deforestation, destruction of links between habitats, and a slow reproduction rate all contribute to the plight of the panda population. The Yangtze Basin region of China is booming with economic growth. As a result, the panda’s only habitat is being split up by roads and railways. This isolates the population, preventing mating and restricting access to bamboo.

The conservation of pandas has been a long slog, starting the 1960s with the establishment of forest reserves especially for the conservation of giant pandas. Nowadays, there are almost 60 panda reserves, covering 3.8 million acres of forest. That being said, only 61% of the panda population is protected by these reserves.

How can I help?

The World Wildlife Fund runs an adopt-a-panda campaign, where you can learn more about this elusive species, make a donation to help its cause, and get an adorable plush panda for keeps. It also holds Panda Tours, which run from spring to fall. These tours offer a rare chance to glimpse pandas in the wild, under the guidance of WWF experts.

Check out what we learned from Jane Goodalls lecture on protecting all aspects of the environment, from chimps to trees.

Jane Goodall is well known as a chimpanzee expert (or primatologist, if we’re being official) with years of conservation work under her eco-friendly belt. She’s currently touring North America as part of the Unique Lives lecture series, and my co-worker Leah and I were thrilled to attend yesterday’s Vancouver event with fellow conservationists, including the eco-friendly company Nature’s Path.

To no one’s surprise, Goodall was an amazing speaker. She brought up plenty of thought-provoking points about our role in preserving the planet’s flora and fauna—and shared some hilarious chimp anecdotes. Today, we’re going to use our usual Wildlife Wednesday format to discuss the event, as well as the wonderful work Goodall is doing to promote global activism.

Habitat

Although she now spends most of her time travelling around the globe and inspiring others, Goodall spent years in the forests of Gombe, Africa, nurturing her love of plants and animals and expanding the study of wild chimpanzees.

Trivia

Goodall travels a mind-boggling 300 days per year to lecture and raise money for the Jane Goodall Institute.

She is also known as Dr. Jane and Dame of the British Empire, a moniker bestowed by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of Goodall’s work with primates.

Goodall was named a UN Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan.

She became a vegetarian after reading up on factory farming.

Goodall’s work in Gombe proved that primates use tools. She first observed chimps’ tool-using talents when David (a chimp) used a piece of grass to “fish” for termites in a termite mound.

Seeds of Hope, Goodall’s latest book, focuses on the importance of preserving plants and trees (as well as primates!).

Goodall’s four reasons for hope

Despite all the threats facing the planet, Goodall pointed out four key reasons why she has hope for the future.

Kids these days are more globally aware than ever.

Our collective intelligence will hopefully lead to innovations that allow us “to live in harmony with Mother Earth.”

Nature is pretty resilient, as shown by all the conservation success stories we feature on Wildlife Wednesday (hello there, black-footed ferret).

The human spirit is indomitable, and conservationists will continue to push for positive change.

How can we help?

Get the kids in your life involved with Roots & Shoots, Goodall’s global youth program that encourages youngsters to flex their activist muscles.

Donate to Roots & Shoots.

Become a chimp guardian and receive an adorable chimp plush. Goodall proudly displayed her own chimp plush, Mr. H, at the lecture.

Support the environment (and your health) by going meatless at least once a week.

Make eco-friendly choices in your daily life. As Goodall pointed out, “the cumulative effect of the millions and billions of small, ethical choices we make every day can change the world.”

Learn about the burrowing owl, a goofy-faced bird thats become scarce in Canada.

Owls have a reputation for being wise and regal birds. (Take the majestic snowy owl, for example.) Then there’s the burrowing owl: a short, chubby bird with a goofy expression and knock-kneed legs. Sadly, this jokester of the owl family has become scarce in parts of Canada.

Habitat

Preferring open grasslands, burrowing owls can be found across North and South America.

Trivia

Burrowing owls spend most of their time at ground level, where they’ve even been known to pursue prey on foot.

Unlike most owls, burrowing owls gather food during the day as well as night. This allows them to catch both sun-loving insects and night-loving mammals.

They express emotions such as excitement and distress by bobbing their heads (adorably, I’m sure).

Alarmed chicks, on the other hand, make a hissing noise that resembles the sound of a rattlesnake.

Lazy opportunists, burrowing owls are quite happy to nest in burrows that were previously dug and abandoned by prairie dogs, skunks, or other burrow-digging creatures.

Their nests are often furnished with mammal dung, which attracts delicious dung beetles for the owls to prey upon.

Why are they threatened?

Although listed as a Least Concern species by the IUCN, burrowing owls are considered endangered in Canada. These little guys have had to deal with a laundry list of troubles, including habitat loss, decreased prey, pesticides, migratory problems, and vehicle collisions. These threats have caused their populations to dip in prairie provinces and disappear entirely in Manitoba and BC.

Thankfully, recovery programs across Canada continue to boost burrowing owl numbers. To show that you give a hoot about the burrowing owl, support conservation efforts in your province, such as the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC or the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre. You can also check out our article, “Going, Going, Gone,” for tips on how we can help protect Canada’s bird species at risk.

Whats the latest buzz on honeybees? On this Wildlife Wednesday, learn how we can help protect these powerful pollinators.

We might think of honeybees as just another summer pest, like mosquitoes or wasps, but these bees play an essential role in our global ecosystem. Certain crops, for example, wouldn’t exist without the pollination power of helpful honeybees. Sadly, these harbingers of warm weather are dying off by the thousands.

Habitat

Honeybees can be found in hives around the world—and probably even in your own garden.

Bee basics

Honeybees are responsible for many of our favourite natural health products, including bee pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and—you guessed it—honey!

A single pound of honey is the result of 556 worker bees’ collective efforts.

Honeybees communicate the direction and distance of nearby nectar by dancing.

The average colony consists of one queen, several hundred drones (male bees), and 60,000 or more worker females.

The queen is responsible for populating the entire colony and may lay 2,000 eggs in a single season. No pressure or anything!

What happens if a queen dies? Well, that’s where royal jelly comes in. When a regular worker bee consumes a diet of this fertilizing elixir, she develops into a queen.

What’s the latest buzz?

Due to their wide range, honeybees aren’t considered endangered; however, there’s little doubt that their numbers are declining.

Between 2012 and 2013 in Canada, we lost almost 30 percent of our beloved bees. Scientists are still baffled by the mass die-off of honeybees, termed colony collapse disorder (CCD). Several possible culprits have been pointed out, including bee-killing pathogens and environmental stressors. A particularly strong link has also been drawn between bee mortality and insecticide use.

More research is needed to really get to the bottom of the honeybees’ plight. In the meantime, we can help protect our pollinating pals by ensuring that our gardens are bee friendly. This means forgoing pesticides and using organic products whenever possible. We can also grow nectar- and pollen-producing plants such as red clover, foxglove, and bee balm.

Interested in going a step further and housing bees in your garden? Our article, “Mason Bees,” will show you how to care for this close cousin of the honeybee.

Learn about the hyacinth macaw, a brilliantly blue bird with plenty of personality.

The hyacinth macaw doesn’t boast the rainbow plumage of other parrots, but its blue feathers may be even more striking. Usually, I would say that the words azure, sapphire, and cobalt should only be used when describing the love interest’s eye colour in a trashy romance novel, but such adjectives really seem to fit the hyacinth macaw. Unfortunately, this bird’s vibrant colouring and sunny personality also make it a $12,000 commodity in the pet trade.

Habitat: the forests and grasslands of Pantanal (a tropical wetland in South America), Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and parts of Paraquay.

Trivia

Reaching an impressive 40 in (100 cm) in length, the hyacinth macaw is the largest parrot in the world.

Hyacinth macaws are super smart, and have been known to use tools and remove the locks on their own cages when kept as pets.

Most parrots, including the hyacinth macaw, use their beaks like a third foot, helping them to grip branches and clamber about on trees.

Their toes are zygodactylous, meaning they have two toes facing forward and two facing in the opposite direction to aid in climbing.

In addition to mating for life, hyacinth macaws are very social and affectionate with each other.

Sadly, it is not uncommon for only one chick in a given clutch will survive to maturity.

One of hyacinth macaws’ main food sources is palm nuts that have already been eaten and, um, expelled by cows.

Why so blue, hyacinth macaw?

Smart, playful, beautiful—with traits like these, it’s not hard to see why the hyacinth macaw is so prized as a pet. Unfortunately, hunting and trapping for the illegal pet trade is part of the reason that these glorious birds are endangered. For example, an estimated 10,000 birds were taken from the wild in the 1980s. Cattle ranching and technological developments, meanwhile, have destroyed or damaged the hyacinth macaw’s habitat.

Knitting is a craft that’s transcending generations – and sexes. Men and women of all ages are discovering the surprising health benefits of knitting and doing fibre crafts.

Knitting, crocheting, and other types of crafts are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, especially among 20- to 30-year-olds—and men. Knitalongs and yarn bombing have put modern twists on classic crafts. But as in Grandma’s day, crafts continue to offer many benefits, including relaxation, creativity, and social connection.

A time-honoured tradition

In Canada, knitting is a part of our history. During World War I, women made socks for soldiers stationed overseas. In 2012, the Government of Canada recognized the historical significance of the Cowichan sweater, the iconic knit garment made by BC’s Coast Salish.

Who’s knitting now?

It’s not only traditional artisans and our grandmothers who are producing hand-knitted garments. According to a 2011 online survey conducted by the US-based Craft Yarn Council, 18 percent of the knitters and crocheters who responded were 18 to 34 years old. Knitting groups are springing up in wool shops, cafés, libraries, and even pubs.

Knitting has even made its way to the boardroom. Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard was criticized in the press for a public relations photo that played up her domestic side as she knit a toy kangaroo for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby.

Sociologist Jo VanEvery, PhD, knits just about anywhere—at home while watching TV, in the pub while talking to friends, and in university staff meetings, where it helps her focus.

On the job, VanEvery says the image of “knitter” can clash with the image of “worker”: “In my case, my work was as an academic and I was known as a feminist, another identity that most people don’t associate with knitting. By inviting people to see you both as a knitter and a competent employee, you challenge people’s preconceptions of the characteristics of both identities.”

Health benefits

Focus is just one of the benefits that crafting imparts. A UK nonprofit group called Stitchlinks (stitchlinks.com) conducts research into the therapeutic benefits of knitting in social groups. It offers a free support network for knitters and provides information to health care and other professionals who wish to use the therapeutic benefits of knitting to help others.

Induced relaxation

Their research corroborates the findings of Herbert Benson, MD. In the 1960s, he discovered that focused repetitive movement can trigger the “relaxation response.” A variety of activities produced it, including meditation, deep breathing, tai chi, qigong, jogging—and knitting.

Improved mood, memory, creativity

Recent research has shown that by focusing on knitting and other crafts, such as cross-stitching (a type of embroidery), our attention is directed away from problems, stress, depression, and physical pain.

A 2010 online survey of 3,545 knitters worldwide showed that there’s a significant relationship between how often people knit and feelings of calmness and happiness. Those who knit regularly report

improved memory

better concentration

improved problem solving and analytical abilities

more patience, persistence, and perseverance

greater creativity

more self-confidence

enhanced relaxation

Paying it forward

Joyce Niemer’s mother taught her to knit when she was six or seven years old. At 88, her positive outlook on life may be partially attributable to a life spent knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and doing needlepoint.

Niemer spent many hours knitting sweaters for Save the Children Canada. She knits scarves for the Salvation Army, and since 1986, she’s knit more than 625 baby sets for the Penticton Regional Hospital.

When asked what she enjoys most about knitting, Niemer says, “It’s relaxing, and I get pleasure from each finished item.”

It’s a man’s world too

Reuben Briskie’s Nanna taught him to knit when he was 13. He subsequently taught his wife, Katie, to knit and crochet.

A café manager who lives in Victoria, Australia, Briskie says he has knit for so long that people who know him well consider knitting to be a part of his identity. He, too, finds the process relaxing, and he loves transforming ideas into tangible objects. Briskie designs patterns such as shark or crocodile iPod and iPhone covers. Some of his patterns can be downloaded from Ravelry.com, a popular website for knitters and crocheters.

The internet abounds with websites where men are defying crafting stereotypes and connecting over their love of knitting. Eighty-one percent of men who responded to a poll on the website Men Who Knit (menwhoknit.com) said they knit in public.

“When I knit in public, strangers are often very curious about what I’m up to. I’m always asked lots of questions, but the reaction is always very positive,” Briskie says. He advises other men to “give [knitting] a go. Life is too short to waste worrying about what other people might think.”

Social circles

While many enjoy knitting and crocheting when commuting or relaxing at home, knitting doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. Search the internet and you’ll find knitting workshops, retreats, and cruises. Those who knit in a group say they feel a sense of belonging and friendship.

Knitalongs

A knitalong is a group that knits for a common purpose. It could be a local “stitch and bitch” group that meets at a café to knit and socialize, or an online community of global knitters who put their needles to work for a charitable or artistic endeavour. Ask at your local wool shop about groups in your area, or start your own group.

Yarn bombing

A form of activism known as “craftivism” (a combination of crafts and activism), yarn bombing allows crafters to make a statement with their knitting needles and crochet hooks. Yarn bombing is street art that’s similar to graffiti, except instead of using paint, yarn bombers attach knitted or crocheted work to trees, parking meters, statues, bridges, vehicles, and airplanes.

Jessica Vellenga learned to crochet four years ago and started knitting two years ago. A textile artist and fashion and accessory designer, she’s also the coordinator of the Yarn Bomb Yukon Collective.

“On August 11, 2012, the Yarn Bomb Yukon Collective yarn bombed a 6,000-square-foot DC-3 plane owned by the Yukon Transportation Museum. This interactive art project was created in partnership with the museum and the Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery

“In four months the Yarn Bomb Yukon Collective hosted more than 35 workshops on how to knit, crochet, and yarn bomb, and over 100 people volunteered to knit, crochet, and sew the yarn bomb together,” Vellenga says. “Since then we have yarn bombed everything from trucks, benches, a woolly mammoth [statue], bikes, sculptures, and trees.”

So far the reaction to Yarn Bomb Yukon’s projects has been positive. “People love that [yarn bombing] brightens up the environment. One person said, ‘Seeing your art on objects is like seeing a rare bird or a fox; it makes me feel good,’” she says.

“I use yarn bombing to connect with my community, and to redirect the nature of graffiti by creating positive fibre-based yarn bombs,” Vellenga says. “It encourages people to appreciate and enjoy fibre arts, and to take up knitting or crocheting.”

Eco-friendly fibres

Ask at your local wool shop about these eco-friendly yarns for your next knitting or crocheting project.

Type of yarn

Characteristics

recycled

made by hand from recycled silk saris and sarongs

purchase helps the women’s cooperatives that produce the yarn

reclaimed

made from previously knitted garments that are unravelled

organic

wool, linen, cotton, silk, and hemp

made from organically raised animals or organically grown plants and manufactured using organic processes

bio-synthetic

one example is SeaCell: a cellulose-based fibre combined with 5 percent seaweed

Crafting to help others

Local hospitals, churches, homeless shelters, and community groups are often in need of handcrafted donations. These organizations have websites with more information.

Organization

What they do

Angel Hugs

knit or crochet items for moms at risk, babies, teens, homeless people, and cancer patients in the Greater Toronto Area angelhugs.ca

Learn about the Amazon river dolphin – an adorable pink porpoise that lives in freshwater.

What cute creature loves to play and lives in freshwater rivers? No, not the river otter. I’m talking about the Amazon river dolphin, another freshwater mammal that’s being threatened by human activity.

Habitat: As its name implies, the Amazon river dolphin lives in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

Trivia

Aliases: pink river dolphin, boto.

Why are many Amazon river dolphins pink? There is no definitive answer, but researchers have suggested that it could have to do with the iron content or temperature of the water.

These dolphins boast a brain capacity that is 40 percent larger than our own. Of the five river dolphin species, the Amazon River variety is considered the smartest.

They use echolocation to locate prey in muddy water, and dine on more than 40 different kinds of fish.

According to Amazonian folklore, river dolphins have magical powers. Some legends say that they’re capable of turning into beautiful men and women who lure amorous victims into the river.

Why river dolphins are threatened

According to most sources, there’s just not enough information to classify river dolphin populations as stable or endangered. Nevertheless, threats to these dolphins’ well-being have caused some organizations to classify them as a vulnerable species.

In the past, locals tended not to harm river dolphins due to beliefs about the animals’ magical abilities. Unfortunately, today’s local fishermen (no longer fearing that they’ll be seduced and drowned) are more likely to treat the dolphins as competitors for fish. Dolphins have also been known to collide with fishing boats and become tangled in nets. Adding to the problem, pollution by river development projects and ruptured oil pipelines has done a number on the dolphins’ habitat.

Are you enamored by the Amazon river dolphin? (Symbolically) adopt one of your own and receive a pink plushie in support of the World Wildlife Foundation’s efforts to sustain their populations.

Yup—we’re talking about those dancing, singing primates from Madagascar. While real-life ring-tailed lemurs aren’t as animated as their cartoon counterparts, they’re still pretty cute. This Wildlife Wednesday, learn why Madagascar’s most famous residents may be in danger of extinction.

Habitat: We can skip this part, right? Lemurs are well known for living only in the forests of Madagascar, and the ring-tailed type is no exception.

Trivia

At 22 in (55 cm), these lemurs’ striped tails are longer than their bodies.

They might not break into song, but ring-tailed lemurs are known for being especially vocal primates.

Unlike most lemurs, the ring-tailed ones spend about half their time on the ground.

Obligatory cute fact: when troops of lemurs traverse the forest floor, they raise their tails like flags to ensure that everyone stays together.

How did they end up on the island of Madagascar? Research suggests that they floated there on rafts of vegetation eons in the past.

Odour is a key communication tool for these guys. Like some human men, male lemurs vie for dominance by seeing who can become the stinkiest.

Despite their fame, even ring-tailed lemurs aren’t immune to the threats that plague so many animals these days. They’re currently labelled as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Lemurs’ risk of extinction is mostly due to burning, overgrazing, and wood harvesting for the production of charcoal. Illegal hunting is another threat, as lemurs’ fame has made them popular pets. To learn how we can help these furry and fuzzy primates, check out the Lemur Conservation Foundation.

Do they even need an introduction? This Wildlife Wednesday, we get to learn a little more about the now-famous platypus!

This semi-aquatic animal is so funny looking that, when it was first discovered in 1797, scientists thought it was a hoax! This Wildlife Wednesday, we’re talking about the part-duck, part-beaver creature and why researchers think its numbers might be dwindling.

Habitat

Platypuses are found in Tasmania as well as eastern Australia. They make their homes around ponds, streams, and other bodies of fresh water.

Trivia

Platypuses have earned many alternative names—including “duckmole,” “duckbill,” and “watermole”— which they, in all likelihood, earned due to their rather unique appearance.

As it turns out, platypuses are neither omnivores (like a duck) nor herbivores (like a beaver). Their diet normally consists of fish eggs, mollusks, tadpoles, and many other tasty treats that they find at the bottoms of lakes or streams.

Adding to the proof that almost anything from Australia is dangerous, male platypuses have poisonous spurs attached to their hind legs. While not deadly to humans, the venom released by these spurs can be extremely painful.

However, they’re slightly less terrifying when you learn that a baby platypus is known as a “puggle.” How cute is that!

Why they’re threatened

Although the IUCN has listed these fuzzy little bug munchers as “least concern,” researchers have noted that the platypus population has declined—or even disappeared—in areas across Australia and Tasmania.

While they might be incredibly (and surprisingly) well adapted for their semi-aquatic lifestyle, they aren’t as adaptable to water pollution or the habitat degradation caused by poorly managed agricultural or forestry practices. Other hazards include fish nets, which may trap and drown unwitting platypuses, as well as cars and dogs.